Alukome@aol.com

Since president Obasanjo takes foreign views about himself far more seriously than home-constituency views – recall his exasperated admission of pro-Sufiya Husseini "harassment" by foreign heads of states - let me begin this piece by quoting how a foreign media outlet (Agence-France Presse) reported that Ot(t)a "Animal Farm" event, an April 2, 2002 event in Nigeria which thoroughly immiserated my birthday here in Burtonsville, USA:

QUOTE

UNQUOTE

There you have it: "The 65-year-old former military ruler has so far refused to officially declare himself a candidate in the polls due in 2003, but that is now considered a formality. In a staged event somewhat reminiscent of campaigns held under past Nigerian regimes…. The event, which Obasanjo's officials sought to claim was unsolicited, took place in front of television cameras and was reported widely by TV and radio….."

Re-enactment, deceit, distrust….

Well, not quite believing the first paragraph of the AFP report – a foreign news agency which I have accused in the past of embellishing news about Nigeria in the negative direction - I had to wait till the following day to see the pictures. "Irohin ko to afojuba" – as the Yoruba would say, or "A picture is worth a thousand words", in English vernacular.

Lo and behold, there they were!

I have since not failed to stare endlessly at a particular gallery of pictures of the attendees, which had the following cast of characters, in no particular order:

The Obasanjo Endorsement pictures

The Gang of 60

President Olusegun Obasanjo (Waiting for God, not Godot)

Chief Tony Anenih, Minister of Works and Housing ("Mr Fix-It" and "Leader of All Delegations")

Chief Solomon Lar, former PDP Chairman ("Red Letter" presenter. Ehn?)

Chief Barnabas Gemade, immediate past PDP Chairman (looking worried)

Chief Tom Ikimi, Abacha’s Foreign Minister (looking serious in dark glasses, like his former boss)

Dr. Joseph Wayas, former president of the Senate (smiling)

Chief August Meredith Adisa Akinloye (smiling broadly)

APP Governor Mala Kachalla of Borno State (apparently the very first governor to arrive)

APP Governor Abubakar Audu of Kogi State (and also of Potomac, Maryland)

PDP Governors:

Plateau Gov. Joshua Dariye (smiling)

Kano Gov. Musa Kwakwanso (smiling?)

Governor Diepre Alamieyeseigha of Bayelsa (smiling?)

Gov. James Ibori of Delta States (smiling)

Alhaji Ahmed Makarfi, Governor of Kaduna State (post-Otta Chief apologist)

Governor Peter Odili of Rivers State

Cross Rivers Gov. Donald Duke

Imo Gov. Chike Udenwa

Ebonyi Gov. Sam Egwu

Akwa Ibom Gov. Obong Victor Attah

Bauchi Gov. Adamu Mu’azu

Enugu Gov. Chimaraoke Nnamani

Governor Abdullahi Adamu of Nasarawa

Edo Gov. Lucky Igbinedion and father…

--

Others:

Chief Gabriel Igbinedion

Lt. General T. Y. Danjuma, Minister of Defence

Minister of Special Duties Yomi Edu

Mr Damishi Shango, former Minister of Sports

Chief Sunday Afolabi, Minister of Internal Affairs

Dr. Mohammed Bello, Minister of Communications

Chief Dubem Onyia, Minister of State, Foreign Affairs

Chief Kola Jamodu, Minister of Industry

Professor A.B.C Nwosu, Minister of Health

Chief Segun Agagu, Minister of Power & Steel

Alhaji Lawal Batagarawa, Minister of State, Defence (Army)

Professor Jerry Gana, Minister of Information

Chief Ojo Maduekwe, Minister for Transport

Senator Ibrahim Mantu, Deputy Senate President

Alhaji Mohammed Shata, Minister of State, Internal Affairs

Mr. Dan Chuke, Minister of Special Project

Dr. (Mrs.) Kema Chikwe, Minister of Aviation

Mrs. Iyabo Anisulowo, Minister of State for Education in the Abacha era

Commodore Dan Suleiman (of NADECO fame)

Alhaji Lawal Kaita from Katsina State

Dr. Sam Ogbemudia, former Minister of Labor in the Abacha era

Alhaji Gambo Lawan, former Chairman of GDM, one of the "five fingers of Abacha’s leprous hand"

Chief Richard Akinjide (of "12 2/3rd" fame)

Not in the pictures referenced above, but mentioned as present in various news reports:

Ibrahim Hashidu, Gombe Governor – was this APP governor present or not?

Jolly Nyame, Taraba Governor

Chinwoke Mbadinuju, Anambra Governor

Chief Olabode George, National vice-chairman, (PDP) South West zone

Senate President, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim

Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Chief of Staff to Lagos State Governor Tinubu (?)

Former National Secretary of PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo

Yoruba Council of Elders Chairman, Pa Emmanuel Alayande

Alhaji Waziri Mohammed (former APP chairman)

Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu

Alhaji Alimi Abdulrasaq

Alhaji Idi Farouk

Alhaji Yahaya Kwande

Of the fifty-nine names listed above – which I have meticulously listed so that they cannot deny their presence in the future, and/or so that their boss does not accuse them of non-attendance - only six or so seemed to be smilingly enjoying themselves. All the others – except perhaps the president himself – looked as if they would prefer to be elsewhere.

Commendably absent were the following, among hundreds of millions of other Nigerians absent:

VP Abubakar Atiku himself (why not?)

PDP Party Chairman Audu Ogbeh (why not?)

Alhaji Abubakar Rimi (won’t be caught dead near Otta)

House Speaker Ghali Na’Abba

Senator Chuba Okadigbo

Senator Gbenga Aluko

Afenifere Leader Mr. Abraham Adesanya (has since denounced the show)

Absent PDP governors:

Niger Governor Abdulkadir Kure (ditto) of PDP (an IBB protege)

Orji Uzor Kalu, PDP Governor, Abia State (of Igbo president fame)

George Akume, Governor, Benue State (of Zaki Biam/Gbeji fame)

Boni Haruna, Governor Adamawa State (of Veep Abubakar Atiku’s state, and his "successor" as governor)

Absent APP governors:

Sokoto Governor Attahiru Baffarawa

Zamfara Governor Ahmed Sani Yerima

Katsina Governor Umaru Musa Yar'Adua

Jigawa Governor Ibrahim Turaki

Kwara Goveror Mohammed Lawal

Yobe Governor Bukar Abba Ibrahim

Kebbi Governor Adamu Aliru

Absent AD Governors:

Ekiti Governor Niyi Adebayo }

Lagos Governor Bola Tinubu } But which of these AD South-West governors signed the

Ondo Governor Ade Adefarati } "Red Letter of Otta"? Every one is denying now o!

Oyo Governor Lam Adesina } The investigation continues about signature authentication.

Osun Governor Bisi Akande } Stay tuned.

Ogun Governor Segun Osoba }

I have been most uncomfortable about three aspects of the Otta visitation to President Obasanjo by these politicians: its impropriety its irreligiosity, and its arrogance. Let me explain.

Let us first look at the impropriety of the event. So many people invade a man’s farm to "beg" him to run for an election. Would this EVER have been appropriate?

Yes, but only under the following circumstances:

If The Man was being asked to run for the VERY first time - for example as in 1999, when he was "begged" – upon showing great reluctance to contest.

If The Man had run the course of his constitutionally-stipulated TWO TERMS, and, due to his "fantastic record," the plea was for him to agree that the constitution be amended to let him continue as president.

 

If The Man had run only ONE TERM of his possible maximum of two terms, but he had announced in in the time being that he would not seek re-election, or he was showing GREAT RELUCTANCE to seek re-election. Perhaps he had even given the reason: lack of cooperation by the politicians, in which case they had ALL come TOGETHER (so that the world might know) to pledge good behavior if only he would agree to run again!

 

Yes, I would PERFECTLY understand it if the above three conditions were fulfilled.

But with the Otta visitation, none of these conditions had been fulfilled. After all, President Obasanjo is constitutionally entitled to run a second time. If he believes that he has done well, his confidence should enable him to run a second time. He would then follow normal party procedures of filing his re-election papers, contesting with other party candidates (who should not be regarded as anti-party traitors), and if successful, contesting with candidates from other parties – again who should not be looked at non-patriots for daring to challenge the incumbent. The very process itself throws up other participants who, if they do not succeed the first time, may impress the voters enough to look at them more closely the very next time. That is PART of the beauty of elective democracy itself, that all participants are given more than one opportunity to present themselves.

One is then left to conclude that there were one or more of the following three reasons for the Otta event:

That it was some orchestrated show of re-assurance to a president fearful that his re-election was in big jeopardy, and hence in need of a public show as a minimal condition for seeking re-election. Source of worry: some key Northern backers have become keen opposers, and he won’t be "guaranteed" success until and unless IBB, Shagari and the Emirs of Kano and Katsina re-declare their support for him PUBLICLY. [Buhari is a lost cause, but he is working on others?]

Arrant sycophancy, with some underlying quid-pro-quos: for the governors, financial support for their own troubled re-election bids.

Intimidation of potential opponents in all political parties.

 

Furthermore, my people, what was the text of the letter, this letter of "Solidarity and Encouragement," anyway? Do the Nigerian people not have a right to know what their governors, ministers, etcheram, ad nauseum wrote to their president and presented to him IN FULL PUBLIC VIEW? Here were people who should have been working in Abuja and in as many as 20 capital cities around the country, congregating in Otta Farm to present a "Red Letter" – whose contents we The People don’t know! Must we be left GUESSING at the letter’s contents and signatories?

What kind of democracy of accountability and transparency is this?

God has told them to come and deliver His voice to Obasanjo; or

The politicians have decided that God is irrelevant in this matter, and Obasanjo need not wait any more for God.

Note that the women of PDP – under the leadership of Mrs. "Fix-It" Josephine Anenih, had come to do the same thing in Aso Rock earlier on. But after all, they are women – they have a comical side to themselves.

But these many men – and at least two women - with Chief Solomon Lar (of G-34 fame) delivering the said letter, only not this time as anti-Abacha self-succession move (as he did in 1998) ? These many men (and at least two wome) poking their fingers in God’s eyes, with the full cooperation of born-again Aremu Obasanjo?

I think that some Diving Person might get pretty upset.

Finally, The Man Upstairs must also be upset for the sheer arrogance of the above statementt. He – that is the Man Upstairs – demands humility from all "rulers" of His people. However, when so many people come to your home to indicate that you are "THE MAN", the only man who can lead Nigeria to the promised land in the next four years, He (that is the Man Upstairs) does get pretty upset.

Brother Aremu, remember Joshua: The people of Israel were so enamored with his rulership that they asked that he become not only King over them, but that also all the generations of his family after him be king over them. Joshua graciously declined the entreaty, saying "God will rule over you."

Also remember Herod. We are not told of how he reacted to all the adulation around him, but soon after a delegation from far away acclaimed, after a great speech of his that "Is this the voice of Man or the Voice of God?", something terrible happened to Herod soon after. Apparently it is what Herod DID not do – for example stop them – that might have accounted for that mishap.

Brother Aremu, we Christians are called upon to prophetically counsel and pray for our leaders. Please, for God’s sake, remember Joshua. Remember Herod. And remember Abacha.

God demands humility of rulers of His people. You will need a good dose of it, particularly if you continue for four more years.

And that is a big "IF."

Have a Good Sunday. I am done with this Otta business that ruined my birthday.

MID-WEEK ESSAY: How A Self-Succession Bid has Turned Nigeria into "Animal Farm"

Mobolaji Aluko, April 3, 2002

On the third day of his visit to his farm house in Ota, Ogun State, yesterday, President Olusegun Obasanjo was said to be enjoying a well-deserved good rest, about the first time since he assumed office in May, 1999.

Shortly after his release from prison in 1998, General Olusegun Obasanjo played host to former military President, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida at his Ota farm. A secret meeting was held between the two generals. Obasanjo was convinced by his guest to join the presidential race. He obliged, apparently after much consideration and assurances of support. The discussions at the meeting ...

The clarion call on President Obasanjo to run for second term was strengthened yesterday as a galaxy of leaders of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stormed his Ota farm resort to hand him a letter of support.

All the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, cabinet ministers and two All Peoples Party (APP) governors yesterday converged at Otta, Ogun State and presented a joint letter, urging President Olusegun Obasanjo to make up his mind on the 2003 presidential polls before the end of this month.

TWENTY- Four Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, two from the All Peoples Party (APP) and 40 ministers, on Tuesday stormed Ota, Ogun State, to deliver a letter of endorsement to President Olusegun Obasanjo, asking him to seek re-election in 2003. The delegation gave the President until the end of this month to respond to its request and the former promised to do so "sooner than later."

President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday in council said he was grateful at the visit of top politicians, urging him to re-contest, just as Information and National Orientation Minister, Professor Jerry Gana, said the president has constitutional right to seek re-election in 2003.

The Governor of Niger State, Engineer Abdulkadir Kure, has dissociated himself from the Tuesday meeting in Otta where some governors urged President Olusegun Obasanjo to run for a second term in the 2003 presidential elections, describing them as sycophants.

The nation's march to 2003 seems to have assumed a new tempo with the visit of leaders of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to Obasanjo's Ota Farm Resort Tuesday. It was hardly the affair of PDP alone as two governors of All Peoples Party (APP), Mala Kachalla (Borno) and Abubakar Audu (Kogi), also joined the train to Ota. The game of suspense has been deepened by the insistence of ...

He who the cap fits. That slogan is very familiar for those who can remember yesterday. But the season is also very familiar. Whether we want to admit it or not, we are in many respects back to the Sani Abacha days of infamy and from now, we should expect that anything

KOGI and Borno state governors, Prince Abubakar Audu and Alhaji Malla Kachalla, respectively, who were the only All Peoples Party (APP) governors on the delegation that endorsed President Olusegun Obasanjo for a second term last Tuesday, may have run into trouble with the party.

The Kaduna Governor, Alh-aji Muhammed Makarfi, yesterday said governors who visited President Olusegun Obasanjo in Ota Tuesday did not go to beg him to seek re-election. Rather, he said the aim of the visit is to ask him to make up his mind whether to run or not within a time-frame.

SOKOTO State Governor Attahiru Bafarawa has described the governors and top politicians that visited President Olusegun Obasanjo at his Ota Farm to persuade him to declare his intention to seek a term as sinking politicians who were desperate to stay relevant in politics.

Fielding questions from THISDAY Board of Editors, Kaduna State governor, Mohammed Markafi, said the governors that went to visit the President in his Otta farm did not go to 'beg' the President to re-contest but to present a popular position which many people have been identifying with. He also said that the statements credited to Sokoto State governor, Atahiru Bafarawa, do not represent the views ...

GOVERNOR Ahmed Makarfi of Kaduna State yesterday said Tuesday's visit of some 19 governors and political leaders to President Olusegun Obasanjo's Ota Farm, was not for the sole purpose of begging the President to seek re-election as has been widely speculated.

GOVERNOR Ahmed Makarfi of Kaduna State has explained that last Tuesday's visit to Ota Farm by leading politicians, including governors, was not meant to endorse President Olusegun Obasanjo as a consensus candidate in the forthcoming presidential election. The visit and subsequent endorsement, he said, were to encourage the President to make up his mind on the 2003 polls.

Activists kick against gathering

A chieftain of the All Peoples Party (APP), Senator Saidu Umar Kumo, has described the two APP Governors who joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) train to Ota last Tuesday to persuade President Olusegun Obasanjo to seek re-election in 2003 as politicians whose political ship is sinking.

Despite the large crowd of top politicians gathered at Ota and Aso Rock to beg President Olusegun Obasanjo to run for a second term, Yusuph Olaniyonu writes on the few men who have openly expressed their opposition to the tactic

The Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy (AD), Alhaji Adamu Abdulkadir, has condemned Tuesday's pilgrimage by politicians to Ota to ask President Olusegun Obasanjo to declare his intention for 2003 elections.

An APP Senator, Saidu Kumo, Gombe Central, said yesterday in Abuja that last weekend's convergence of many politicians including two APP governors to convince President Olusegun Obasanjo to re-contest was deceitful.

THERE are days in every man's life which are difficult to forget. In their luck, impressions, fortune or misfortune they bring, they just remain indelible; Wednesday, April 2, 2002, was such a day .